(India flag)
The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) has been urged to speak up as the attacks against Christians are on the increase. A letter was sent by the Forum of Religious for Justice and Peace to CBCI President Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, requesting that they do more to address the persecution of Christians by Hindu extremists in India.
The letter which was available to Crux read, “In the year 2021, there were 486 incidents of violence against the Christian community in India, according to the United Christian Front. What shocks us is the complete silence on the part of the official Church, the CBCI.
“The violent acts against the Christian and Muslim community or any other minority group are in complete violation of the law of the land and the Indian Constitution. If we do not respond to such acts, the secular fabric of India will be lost causing irreparable damage to the people of India, and an inclusive, democratic and pluralistic India as envisioned in the preamble of the Indian Constitution could be lost forever.
“Vigilante mobs composed of religious extremists have been seen to either barge into a prayer gathering or round up individuals that they believe are involved in forcible religious conversions. Such mobs criminally threaten, physically assault people in prayer, before handing them over to the police on allegations of forcible conversions.”
The Forum of Religious for Justice and Peace noted that Catholic leaders cannot continue to be silent when the continuous attacks do not seem to be ending anytime soon. Hence, they must act before the issue goes out of control.
Also, they advised that the bishop’s conference should forward a letter to President Narendra Modi, demanding that the state government where Christians are being persecuted, should bring the culprits to book.
Post a Comment